Ex-wife arrested in connection with Exeter cop’s death

Investigators arrested the ex-wife of Exeter police officer Daniel Green in connection with his slaying.

Erika Sandoval, 28, of Visalia, was taken into custody without incident around 5 p.m. Saturday and could be charged with homicide, according to Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux.

Green, 31, has been with the Exeter Police Department for 10 years. Law enforcement agencies across the state are showing their support by wearing black bands over their badges. Some are displaying a thin, blue line on social media to show support.

Boudreaux said Green died Friday evening from gunshot wounds. He did not say how many or where the wounds were located. Boudreaux said investigators recovered a weapon they believe was used in the crime, but could not give further details about the weapon or the motive.

Green and Sandoval, who have a child together, were previously involved in a domestic violence incident in February 2011. Deputies found evidence to arrest both Green and Sandoval, sheriff’s officials reported at the time of their arrest. Charges were never filed for either of them

Four years to the day of their 2011 arrest, police said Sandoval was detained during an interrogation. They couldn’t say whether or not Sandoval confessed to the crime. Police also did not give details on what evidence they gathered that led them to Sandoval.

According to authorities, Green and Sandoval share a 2-year-old child together. It is also believed by authorities that the two have been divorced since 2013. The child has been placed in the care of family members.

The investigation began Friday when officers from Green’s agency found Green dead in his home in Goshen. They went to his home as part of an effort to find Green after he did not show up to work.

Exeter authorities said Green was off duty for three days prior to when he was found Friday. They could not say how long he had been deceased.

“As you would suspect, a small department like ours is family, so this hurts deeply,” Exeter Chief Cliff Bush said. “We’re all grieving right now. We’re still all in a state of shock.”

As of Sunday, Sandoval was was being held at Bob Wiley Detention Facility. Bail was denied.

The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office expects to receive the case Monday and police sounded confident the suspect would likely be arraigned Tuesday. Prosecutors and DA investigators worked with local law enforcement agencies since Friday to ensure the case would be streamlined.